Standing in line for a Chanel bag in an air-conditioned mall has become a way to beat the heat, instead of traveling overseas for some relaxation and summer fun. Running has increased as part of daily life for many Koreans, but not exactly for fitness reasons. A herd of people lead you to the place where you would least expect to see a large group of sprinters: a department store.  It’s common to see long lines in front of luxury brand boutiques like Chanel, Hermes, and Rolex. Given long wait times, queuing up in line can even be considered a lucrative side hustle (in Korea, at least). Part-time line-holders receive 100,000 won per session and up to a 300,000 won finder’s fee if they manage to buy the item the client wants.  South Korean consumers lined up in front of major department stores in Seoul before opening hours. The customers rushed to buy Chanel bags in the run-up to notable price hikes, in what local media outlets called an “open-run” phenomenon.